A risk-based scoring system to quantify biosecurity in cattle production

[en] Farm biosecurity includes all measures preventing pathogens from entering (external) and spreading within a herd (internal) and is important in facilitating the shift from cure to prevention in veterinary medicine. To assess biosecurity on farm level quantitatively an objective measurement process is required. This study describes the development and implementation of risk-based weighted biosecurity evaluation tools for veal, beef and dairy cattle farms. Based on risk factors and biosecurity measures associated with priority cattle diseases and the results of a cross-sectional survey on Belgian farms, questions were selected for the Biocheck-tool. The scoring system consists of three separate questionnaires that contain 69 (veal), 104 (beef) and 124 (dairy) questions. Experts in various fields of veterinary medicine were asked to weigh the different biosecurity categories and questions according to the method of Gore. The system obtained provides biosecurity scores per category (external and internal biosecurity) and subcategory (e.g. purchase, transport, health management). The Biocheck tool was subsequently used in a survey to assess biosecurity in 20 veal, 50 beef and 50 dairy farms. For all production systems, both internal and external biosecurity were considered low, resulting in low mean total biosecurity scores of 39.7 points for veal (SD = 7.4), 44.3 for beef (SD = 8.4), and 48.6 points for dairy farms (SD = 8.1), out of a maximum of 100 points. For all farm types, the scores for internal biosecurity were lower compared to external biosecurity. Veal farms scored significantly lower for “purchase” than beef and dairy, while scoring higher for the other subcategories of external biosecurity. In dairy and beef, “purchase and reproduction” was the highest scoring subcategory. For internal biosecurity, “health management” was particularly low in the three farm types, while subcategories exceeding 50 points were rare. With this tool, implementation of biosecurity on cattle farms can be assessed in a standardized and reproducible manner. This evaluation allows for benchmarking of farms and herd-specific advice for improvements. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.

Disciplines :

Veterinary medicine & animal health

Author, co-author :

Damiaans, B.; Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium

Renault, Véronique ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des maladies infectieuses et parasitaires (DMI) > Epidémiologie et analyse des risques appl. aux sc. vétér.

Sarrazin, S.; Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium

Berge, A. C.; Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium

Pardon, B.; Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke, 9820 17, Belgium

Saegerman, Claude ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des maladies infectieuses et parasitaires (DMI) > Epidémiologie et analyse des risques appl. aux sc. vétér.

Dewulf, J.; Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium

Language :

English

Title :

A risk-based scoring system to quantify biosecurity in cattle production

Publication date :

2020

Journal title :

Preventive Veterinary Medicine

ISSN :

0167-5877

eISSN :

1873-1716

Publisher :

Elsevier B.V.

Volume :

179

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Funders :

RT 15/4 BOBIOSEC1RT 15/4 BOBIOSEC1

Available on ORBi :

since 24 March 2021

Statistics

Number of views

61 (3 by ULiège)

Number of downloads

358 (6 by ULiège)

More statistics

Scopus citations^®

Scopus citations^®
without self-citations

OpenCitations

Bibliography

Al Mawly, J., Grinberg, A., Prattley, D., Moffat, J., Marshall, J., French, N., Risk factors for neonatal calf diarrhoea and enteropathogen shedding in New Zealand dairy farms. Vet. J. 203 (2015), 155–160.
Amelung, S., Hartmann, M., Haas, L., Kreienbrock, L., Factors associated with the bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) status in cattle herds in Northwest Germany. Vet. Microbiol. 216 (2018), 212–217.
Boelaert, F., Speybroeck, N., Kruif, Ad., Aerts, M., Burzykowski, T., Molenberghs, G., Berkvens, D.L., Risk factors for bovine herpesvirus-1 seropositivity. Prev. Vet. Med. 69 (2005), 285–295.
Brennan, M.L., Christley, R.M., Cattle producers’ perceptions of biosecurity. BMC Vet. Res., 9, 2013, 71.
Cuttance, W., Cuttance, E., Analysis of individual farm investigations into bovine viral diarrhoea in beef herds in the North Island of New Zealand. N. Z. Vet. J. 62 (2014), 338–342.
Damiaans, B., Sarrazin, S., Heremans, E., Dewulf, J., Perception, motivators and obstacles of biosecurity in cattle production. Vlaams Tijdschr. 87 (2018), 150–163.
Damiaans, B., Renault, V., Sarrazin, S., Berge, A.C., Pardon, B., Ribbens, S., Saegerman, C., Dewulf, J., Biosecurity practices in Belgian veal calf farming: level of implementation, attitudes, strengths, weaknesses and constraints. Prev. Vet. Med., 172, 2019, 104768.
Daugschies, A., Najdrowski, M., Eimeriosis in cattle: current understanding. J. Vet. Med. Ser. B 52 (2005), 417–427.
Delafosse, A., Chartier, C., Dupuy, M.C., Dumoulin, M., Pors, I., Paraud, C., Cryptosporidium parvum infection and associated risk factors in dairy calves in western France. Prev. Vet. Med. 118 (2015), 406–412.
Dewulf, J., Van Immerseel, F., General principles of biosecurity in animal production and veterinary medicine. Dewulf, J., Van Immerseel, F., (eds.) Biosecurity in Animal Production and Veterinary Medicine, 2018, Acco, Ghent, Belgium, 63–76.
Dias, J.A., Alfieri, A.A., Ferreira-Neto, J.S., Goncalves, V.S., Muller, E.E., Seroprevalence and risk factors of bovine herpesvirus 1 infection in cattle herds in the state of Parana. Brazil. Transbound Emerg Dis 60 (2013), 39–47.
Enting, H., Kooij, D., Dijkhuizen, A., Huirne, R., Noordhuizen-Stassen, E., Economic losses due to clinical lameness in dairy cattle. Livest. Prod. Sci. 49 (1997), 259–267.
European Council Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’). Official Journal of the European Union., 2016, 1–208.
Fossler, C.P., Wells, S.J., Kaneene, J.B., Ruegg, P.L., Warnick, L.D., Bender, J.B., Eberly, L.E., Godden, S.M., Halbert, L.W., Herd-level factors associated with isolation of Salmonella in a multi-state study of conventional and organic dairy farms I. Salmonella shedding in cows. Prev. Vet. Med. 70 (2005), 257–277.
Fossler, C.P., Wells, S.J., Kaneene, J.B., Ruegg, P.L., Warnick, L.D., Bender, J.B., Eberly, L.E., Godden, S.M., Halbert, L.W., Herd-level factors associated with isolation of Salmonella in a multi-state study of conventional and organic dairy farms II. Salmonella shedding in calves. Prev. Vet. Med. 70 (2005), 279–291.
Gelaude, P., Schlepers, M., Verlinden, M., Laanen, M., Dewulf, J., Biocheck. UGent: a quantitative tool to measure biosecurity at broiler farms and the relationship with technical performances and antimicrobial use. Poult. Sci. 93 (2014), 2740–2751.
Gore, S.M., Biostatistics and the medical research council. Medical Research Council News 35 (1987), 19–20.
Gunn, G., Heffernan, C., Hall, M., McLeod, A., Hovi, M., Measuring and comparing constraints to improved biosecurity amongst GB farmers, veterinarians and the auxiliary industries. Prev. Vet. Med. 84 (2008), 310–323.
Hotchkiss, E.J., Hodgson, J.C., Schmitt-van de Leemput, E., Dagleish, M.P., Zadoks, R.N., Molecular epidemiology of Pasteurella multocida in dairy and beef calves. Vet. Microbiol. 151 (2011), 329–335.
Houe, H., Epidemiological features and economical importance of bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV) infections. Vet. Microbiol. 64 (1999), 89–107.
Humphry, R., Brlisauer, F., McKendrick, I., Nettleton, P., Gunn, G., Prevalence of antibodies to bovine viral diarrhoea virus in bulk tank milk and associated risk factors in Scottish dairy herds. Veterinary Record-English Edition, 171, 2012, 445.
KB2017-09-18/09, Royal Decree, Koninklijk Besluit Betreffende De Bestrijding Van Boviene Virale Diarree. Belgium, 2017.
KB2018-04-27/03, Royal Decree, Koninklijk Besluit Tot Wijziging Van Het Koninklijk Besluit Van 25 November 2016 Betreffende De Bestrijding Van Infectieuze Boviene Rhinotracheïtis. Belgium, 2018.
Laanen, M., Beek, J., Ribbens, S., Vangroenweghe, F., Maes, D., Dewulf, J., Biosecurity on pig herds: development of an on-line scoring system and the results of the first 99 participating herds. Vlaams Tijdschr. 79 (2010), 302–306.
Laanen, M., Persoons, D., Ribbens, S., de Jong, E., Callens, B., Strubbe, M., Maes, D., Dewulf, J., Relationship between biosecurity and production/antimicrobial treatment characteristics in pig herds. Vet. J. 198 (2013), 508–512.
Lechtenberg, K.F., Smith, R.A., Stokka, G.L., Feedlot health and management. Veterinary Clinics: Food Animal Practice 14 (1998), 177–197.
Lin, J., Kaphle, K., Wu, L., Yang, N., Lu, G., Yu, C., Yamada, H., Rogers, P., Sustainable veterinary medicine for the new era. Revue scientifique et technique-Office international des épizooties 22 (2003), 949–964.
Maunsell, F.P., Donovan, G.A., Mycoplasma bovis Infections in young calves. Vet. Clin. North Am. Food Anim. Pract. 25 (2009), 139–177 vii.
Mee, J.F., Managing the dairy cow at calving time. Veterinary Clinics: Food Animal Practice 20 (2004), 521–546.
Mee, J., Prevalence and risk factors for dystocia in dairy cattle: a review. Vet. J. 176 (2008), 93–101.
Mee, J.F., Geraghty, T., O'Neill, R., More, S.J., Bioexclusion of diseases from dairy and beef farms: risks of introducing infectious agents and risk reduction strategies. Vet. J. 194 (2012), 143–150.
Mellor, D., Stafford, K., Animal welfare implications of neonatal mortality and morbidity in farm animals. Vet. J. 168 (2004), 118–133.
Nöremark, M., Frössling, J., Lewerin, S.S., Application of routines that contribute to on‐farm biosecurity as reported by swedish livestock farmers. Transbound. Emerg. Dis. 57 (2010), 225–236.
Nöremark, M., Sternberg Lewerin, S., Ernholm, L., Frössling, J., Swedish farmers’ opinions about biosecurity and their intention to make professionals use clean protective clothing when entering the stable. Front. Vet. Sci., 3, 2016, 46.
Pardon, B., Morbidity, Mortality and Drug Use in White Veal Calves With Emphasis on Respiratory Disease. Ghent University, 2012.
Postma, M., Dewulf, J., Biosecurity and its relationship with health, production and antimicrobial use. Biosecurity in animal production and veterinary medicine: from principles to practice. ACCO, 2018, 77–94.
Postma, M., Backhans, A., Collineau, L., Loesken, S., Sjölund, M., Belloc, C., Emanuelson, U., Beilage, E.G., Stärk, K., Dewulf, J., The biosecurity status and its associations with production and management characteristics in farrow-to-finish pig herds. animal 10 (2016), 478–489.
Rehman, T.U., Khan, M.N., Sajid, M.S., Abbas, R.Z., Arshad, M., Iqbal, Z., Iqbal, A., Epidemiology of Eimeria and associated risk factors in cattle of district Toba Tek Singh. Pakistan. Parasitology research 108 (2011), 1171–1177.
Renault, V., Damiaans, B., Sarrazin, S., Humblet, M.F., Dewulf, J., Saegerman, C., Biosecurity practices in Belgian cattle farming: level of implementation, constraints and weaknesses. Transbound. Emerg. Dis. 65:5 (2018), 1246–1261.
Renault, V., Damiaans, B., Sarrazin, S., Humblet, M.F., Lomba, M., Ribbens, S., Riocreux, F., Koenen, F., Cassart, D., Dewulf, J., Classification of adult cattle infectious diseases: a first step towards prioritization of biosecurity measures. Transbound. Emerg. Dis. 65:6 (2018), 1991–2005.
Saegerman, C., Humblet, M.-F., Biosecurity in veterinary practices and clinics. Biosecurtiy in animal production and veterinary medicine, 2018, 453–474.
Sarrazin, S., Cay, A.B., Laureyns, J., Dewulf, J., A survey on biosecurity and management practices in selected Belgian cattle farms. Prev. Vet. Med. 117 (2014), 129–139.
Sarrazin, S., Damiaans, B., Renault, V., Saegerman, C., Transmission of cattle diseases and biosecurity in cattle farms. Biosecurtiy in animal production and veterinary medicine, 2018, 357–408.
Sayers, R., Good, M., Sayers, G., A survey of biosecurity-related practices, opinions and communications across dairy farm veterinarians and advisors. Vet. J. 200 (2014), 261–269.
Svensson, C., Lundborg, K., Emanuelson, U., Olsson, S.-O., Morbidity in Swedish dairy calves from birth to 90 days of age and individual calf-level risk factors for infectious diseases. Prev. Vet. Med. 58 (2003), 179–197.
Tarazi, Y.H., Abo-Shehada, M.N., Herd- and individual-level prevalences of and risk factors for Salmonella spp. Fecal shedding in dairy farms in Al-Dhulail Valley. Jordan. Tropical Animal Health and Production 47 (2015), 1241–1248.
Villarroel, A., Dargatz, D.A., Lane, V.M., McCluskey, B.J., Salman, M.D., Suggested outline of potential critical control points for biosecurity and biocontainment on large dairy farms. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 230 (2007), 808–819.
Wells, S.J., Dee, S., Godden, S., Biosecurity for gastrointestinal diseases of adult dairy cattle. Vet. Clin. North Am. Food Anim. Pract. 18 (2002), 35–55.